Up to 50 workers are to be a laid off at the Athy, Co Kildare based rug maker, Peerless, according to local union sources. Mr Michael Dowling, the SIPTU branch secretary for Athy, said yesterday that the Canadian owned company was letting the workers go for a period of up to three months. The company, which makes bathroom rugs, had decided to lay off the workers because of fall off in orders, he said. The company currently employs just under 200 people. The management of the Athy factory were not available for comment last night.